Bicycle pedal adapter



Dec. 5, 1950 w. c. HILL BICYCLE PEDAL ADAPTER Filed March 23, 1948 INVENTOR. 6? JW/ HTTKS Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BICYCLE PEDAL ADAPTER William 0. Hill, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 23, 1948, Serial No; 16,437

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to bicycles, or similar vehicles, and in particular to crank mechanisms for such vehicles.

One object of this invention is to provide a bicycle crank shortening pedal adapter whereby the effective throw of the bicycle cranks may be shortened in order to adapt the bicycle for use by a child of younger age or shorter legs than could ordinarily use such a bicycle, thereby enabling a standard bicycle to be purchased for younger children than are ordinarily enabled to ride such a bicycle.

Another object is to provide a bicycle crankshortening pedal adapter of the foregoing type wherein the adapter fits the threaded pedal axle bores in standard cranks, and has a second bore nearer the axis of rotation of each crank to which the pedal axle is shifted to shorten the crank throw.

Another object is to provide a bicycle crankshortening. pedal adapter of the foregoing type wherein no alterations whatever are necessary in the cranks or pedals of the bicycle, which fits any standard cranks and pedals, and which enables the adapter to be removed and the pedals shifted back to their original locations when the childs legs have grown long enough to reach the pedals in their standard locations.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of the cranks and crank hanger portion of a bicycle showing the pedals thereof attached to a bicycle crank-shortening pedal adapter according to a preferred form of the invention, for shortening the throw of the cranks;

Figure 2 is a top plan view, partly in horizontal section, of the portion of the bicycle shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 33 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, partly in section, of a modification of the bicycle crank-shortening pedal adapter shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a further modification of the bicycle crankshortening pedal adapter of the invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a vertical section taken along the line i'i in Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary bottom plan View partly in section, of a further modification of the bicycle crank-shortening pedal adapter of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, Figures 1,

2 and 3 show a bicycle crank-shortening pedal adapter, generally designated ill according to a preferred form of the invention as applied to the standard cranks H of a bicycle, generally designated E2. The cranks H are interconnected by the usual crank shaft l3 supported in antifriction bearings H5 in the crank hanger E5 of the frame [2. The usual sprocket I6 is mounted on one side of the crank hanger l5 and the remaining nut ll on the other side thereof. Each of the cranks H is provided with the usual enlarged boss It with its standard threaded bore [9 which ordinarily receives the threaded axle 29 of a standard pedal 2|. The axle 23, of course, has the usual enlargement 22 with the flat portions 23 for engagement by a wrench.

The bicycle crank-shortening pedal adapter 10 consists of a member 2 preferably made of heavy sheet metal and of approximately U-shaped cross-section embracing the opposite sides of the crank H and having a hole 25 through which a bolt or cap screw 26 is threaded through one of the side wal s 2'! into the threaded bore l9. The body member 24. is provided with a pair of aligned holes 28 and 29 which are located nearer the crankshaft l3 than the threaded bore l9, and through them is inserted the pedal axle 20 and clamped in posit'on by a nut 38. The nut 36 is tightened so that the side walls 27 and 3! of the body member 26 are clamped firmly against the sides of the crank Ii, which is held between the connecting portion or back 32 (Figure 3) of the body member 24 and the pedal axle 23 on the opposite side thereof.

In this manner, the throw of the cranks I! is shortened so that a child with shorter legs than an adult can reach the pedals of the standard bicycle I2. When the childs legs grow longer, however, the adapters m can be removed by removing the bolts 26 and nuts 39 and reinserting the pedal axles 2i? in the threaded bores 19.

The modified bicycle crank-shortening pedal adapter 46 of Figure 4 is generally similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive and similar parts are similarly designated by reference numerals. In the Figure 4 modification, however, the nut 38 is threaded onto the end of the pedal axle 29 between the side walls 27 and 3!. The hole is thus becomes a mere access opening for a screw driver to engage the slot (not shown) frequently found in the end of a standard pedal axle. The attachment and detachment of the modified pedal adapter t!) is similar to that of the pedal adapter it described above except that the nut 36 does not draw the two side walls 2,?

3 and 3i together in clamping engagement with the crank ii. The construction is therefore somewhat simpler but the body member 24 must be made of stronger material in order to avoid bending after continued use.

The further modified bicycle crank-shortening pedal adapter 50 shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 is for the same purpose as the adapters l and d0 previously described but rather than being made of sheet metal, is made on a casting or forging. ;.1

The cast or forge body member consists of a block 52 having an arm 53 extending outward therefrom and provided with a hole 54 through which a bolt or cap screw 55 is inserted into the threaded bore 59 in the crank H. is provided with a longitudinal groove 56 shaped to embrace one side of the crank H. A transverse bore 5? is drilled through the block 52 for the passage of the bicycle pedal axle 2B, which is threaded as before and which on its outer end carries a retaining nut 58.

The application and use of the modified bicycle crank-shortening pedal adapter 58 is similar to that of the adapters is and t!) described above.

Thepedal axle 2d unscrewed from its normal by the nut 53, the bolt or screw 55 being tightened until the groove 55 snugly engages the crank ll. When the child has outgrown the shortened throw positions of the pedals, the adapters 58 are removed by removing the bolts 55, the pedals 2! are removed from the adapter by unscrewing the nuts 58, whereupon the pedal axles are replaced in the threaded holes i9 for which they are normally intended. The bicycle [2 can then be operated in the usual way with the normal crank throw.

The still further modified bicycle crank-shortening pedal adapter 5!! shown in Figure 8 is generally similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive and similar parts are similarly designated by reference numerals. modification, however, the nut BI is welded as at 62 to the inner surface of the side wall 3! opposite the hole 28 and in line with the hole 29.

The attachment and detachment of the modified pedal adapter 6c is similar to that of the m pedal adapters it and I 0 previously described except that the threaded axle 243 of the pedal 2! is inserted through the hole 28 and threaded into the threaded bore of the nut 6| by applying a wrench to the fiat portions 23. The construction shown in Figure 8 enables a standard pedal to be used without the necessity for a lengthened axle 20 as in Figures 1 t0 3 inclusive yet at the same time a clamping action is obtained which draws the side walls 2? and 31 together into clamping engagement with the sides of the crank II. The usual bolt or cap screw 26 is threaded through the hole into the threaded bore IS in the boss [8 on the end of the crank H.

What I claim is:

1. A crank-shortening pedal adapter for a bicycle having pedals on pedal axles in bores in the ends of cranks attached to the opposite ends of a crankshaft, said adapter comprising a body of bent sheet material adapted to lie adjacent and partially encircle said bicycle crank, said body having a plurality of longitudinally-spaced transverse holes, and a fastener adapted to be threaded through one of said holes into one of said pedal axle bores, the other hole being dis- The block 52 In the Figure 8 i i transverse holes,

posed nearer said crankshaft than said firstmentioned hole and adapted to receive said pedal axle, said body being of approximately U-shapecl cross-section with side walls extending substantially parallel to one another and adapted to engage the opposite sides of said crank.

2. A crank-shortening pedal adapter for a bicycle having pedals on pedal axles in bores in the ends of cranks attached to the opposite ends of a crankshaft, said adapter comprising a body of bent sheet material adapted to lie adjacent and partially encircle said bicycle crank, said body having a plurality of longitudinally-spaced transverse holes, a fastener adapted to be threaded through one of said holes into one of said pedal axle bores, the other hole being disposed nearer said crankshaft than said firstmentioned hole and adapted to receive said pedal axle, said body being of approximately U-shaped cross-section with side walls extending substantially parallel to one another and adapted to engage the opposite sides of said crank and said pedal axle being adapted to extend through said other hole in at least one of said side Walls, and a holding member adapted to receive and secure said pedal axle to one of said side walls.

3. A crank-shortening pedal adapter for a bicycle having pedals on pedal axles in bores in the ends of cranks attached to the opposite ends of a crankshaft, said adapter comprising a body of bent sheet material adapted to lie adjacent and partially encircle said bicycle crank, said body having a plurality of longitudinally-spaced transverse holes, a fastener adapted to be threaded through one of said holes into one of said pedal axle bores, said body being of approximately U-shaped cross-section and having side walls extending substantially parallel to one another and adapted to engage the opposite sides of said crank and a connecting wall extending between said side walls, said side walls having aligned holes disposed nearer said crankshaft than said first-mentioned hole, and an internally-bored and threaded member secured to one of said side walls with its threaded bore in alignment with said aligned holes and adapted to receive the threaded portion of said pedal axle.

4. A crank-shortening pedal adapter for a bicycle having pedals on pedal axles in bores in the ends of cranks attached to the opposite ends of a crankshaft, said adapter comprising a body of bent sheet material adapted to lie adjacent and partially encircle said bicycle crank, said body having a plurality of longitudinally spaced a fastener adapted to e threaded through one of said holes into one of said pedal axle bore, said body being of approxi mately U-shaped cross-section and having side walls extending substantially parallel to one another and adapted to engage the opposite sides of said crank and a connecting wall extending be tween said side walls, said side walls having aligned holes disposed nearer said crankshaft than said first-mentioned hole, and an internally-bored and threaded member secured to one of said side walls with its threaded bore in alignment with said aligned holes and adapted to receive the threaded portion of said pedal axle, said pedal axle beingadapted to extend through said aligned holes in both of said side walls on the opposite side of said crank from said connecting wall.

WILLIAM C. HILL.

(References on following page) 5 REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the 628,173 file of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2:403:122 Number Name Date 329,517 Warwick Nov. 3, 1885 558,463 Bascom Apr. 14, 1896 Number 558,464 Bascom Apr. 14, 1896 579,732 Adams Mar. 30, 1897 10 10,387 597,911 Morris Jan. 25, 1898 99352 Name Date Young July 4, 1899 Lynch Dec. '12, 1916 Zolla. Jar1;"12, 1926 Reisert July 2, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1885 Great Britain 1888 Netherlands Apr. 14, 1942 

